Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 9 - Advanced Korean #2 (Lessons 241 to 270) ᚛ Lesson 269 - So much that, beyond, in Korean [-다 못해]
So much that, beyond, in Korean [-다 못해]
The pattern -다 못해 combines the declarative ending -다 with 못하다, "cannot". After an adjective, it means that a degree has been exceeded, "so… that it is almost", "beyond": 하얗다 못해 푸르다, "so white it is almost blue". After a verb, it says that one can no longer carry on, "unable to… any longer": 참다 못해 화를 냈어요, "unable to bear it any longer, I got angry". In both cases, what follows is the consequence of an excess: a quality pushed too far, patience worn out.
"Beyond" with an adjective: -다 못해
[Adjective]-다 못해 [Higher degree / consequence]
The adjective keeps its dictionary form, 하얗다, 짜다, 친절하다, followed by 못해. What follows expresses an even stronger degree, often of a different kind: "so salty it is almost bitter", "so kind it is almost a burden". You very often find 정도이다, "to the point that", or -(으)ㄹ 지경이다, "to be on the verge of", to close the sentence. The pattern is used to exaggerate with elegance.
눈이 하얗다 못해 푸른빛이 돌아요.
→ The snow is so white it is almost tinged with blue.
음식이 짜다 못해 쓸 정도예요.
→ The food is so salty it is almost bitter.
그 사람은 친절하다 못해 부담스러워요.
→ He is so kind it becomes a burden.
고맙다 못해 미안할 정도예요.
→ I am so grateful it is almost embarrassing.
"Unable to… any longer" with a verb: -다 못해
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With 정도, 지경, and the unfinished action
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Exercises
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